The Occupy Eureka protesters are planning to regroup their camping efforts despite the authorities' recent attempts to shut down the illegal campsite.

Protesters continued to gather on the Humboldt County Courthouse lawn Tuesday with dozens of signs but no tents. Protesters on site said they would be rebuilding their supplies and gathering tents for a renewed effort. Eureka Police Department Chief Murl Harpham said officers would be monitoring the site.

"They can regroup and protest all they want, but if they start to break the law -- and no camping is one of them -- they will be arrested," he said. "In fact, we're probably going to start taking a harder line instead of just taking citations. They have been warned, and they will be arrested."

Harpham said officers arrested two men Monday around 9 p.m. after police confiscated a tent that had been erected on the lawn. Harpham said none of the protesters would claim the tent, so the officers took it down. One man tried to grab the tent from officers and was arrested for obstruction of justice. As the first man was being arrested, a second man was reportedly drunk and confrontational. He was also arrested. Two others were cited Tuesday morning, one for urinating on the courthouse wall and the other for placing a sign on a city pole. Harpham said the sign was confiscated as well as signs that were left on the sidewalk.

"You can't abandon stuff there," Harpham said.

Eureka resident Pete Camacho, who has participated in the Occupy activities since Oct. 8, said officers have not made it clear to protesters why they are subject to arrests. Although there is often mention of camping being illegal, no one has been arrested or cited for camping, but rather resisting arrest or obstruction of justice, he said.

"The tent (from Monday night) was set up not for the purpose of sleep, but more for symbolism," he added.

Protesters held their signs or had signs placed around the flag pole as officers had instructed. Several members attended the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to make comments about the police raid early Monday morning, when 13 people were arrested. They questioned the necessity of the raid.

Camacho said protesters will continue to attend public comment sessions at the county and city level until they feel their concerns are addressed.

County Administrative Officer Philip-Smith Hanes said the county recognizes the protesters' rights to express their ideas and opinions, but the county cannot condone the destruction of public property, such as the courthouse lawn. The county will be installing new signs citing a county code restricting camping since the other signs were removed by protesters.

Protesters also said officers had taken their property, although much was salvaged before the raid.

Harpham said the property was seized because none of the protesters claimed any of the items. He said if protesters want their items back, they would have to make an appointment by calling EPD at 441-4060.